Excluding Large Grazers Dramatically Improves Survival of Outplanted Juvenile Corals

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 17, 2024

Abstract High mortality rates of juvenile corals hinder both the natural recovery populations and successful implementation restoration efforts. Grazing is a significant cause coral mortality, grazer exclusion devices have been shown to increase survivorship. However, most experiments used cages that typically alter water flow light conditions exclude grazers sizes, making it difficult quantify effects large alone. Here, we test whether deterring can survival growth six-month-old Acropora digitifera juveniles outplanted shallow reef crest, using arrangements two or four long short masonry nails selectively larger (e.g., parrotfish) while minimising abiotic changes. By end our study, colonies with deterrents had significantly planar area (almost tenfold for effective treatment), more branches, greater height, enhanced than those without deterrents. A critical period first week after outplanting when less tissue loss from grazing without. Less in was associated higher over following 14 months, an almost threefold improvement treatment. For heavily grazed systems, study highlights importance incorporating into outplant counteract negative impact on boost success.

Language: Английский

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Comparative Analysis of the Distribution and Composition of Grouper Fish (Family Serranidae) in the Coral Reef Ecosystems of Batanta and Salawati Islands, Raja Ampat

BIO Web of Conferences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 134, P. 06021 - 06021

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

The Coral Reef Ecosystems of Batanta and Salawati Islands, Raja Ampat is a critical habitat for grouper species (Family Serranidae), which play essential roles in coral reef ecosystems. This study assessed the composition, abundance, biomass groupers across 12 sampling sites region. Using Underwater Visual Census (UVC) method, we identified 14 species, with Plectropomus areolatus classified as vulnerable by IUCN. Our results revealed an average abundance 17.33 ind/350m 2 18.33 Salawati. An mean 4288.16 gr/350m 1881.10 Salawati, indicating substantial within area. Statistical analyses, including Kruskal-Wallis test t- tests reveal no significant difference between two locations, indicated non-significant p-value (p = 0.87). Correlation analysis demonstrated very strong positive relationship biomass, suggesting that Anthropogenic activities have not yet significantly impacted populations Batanta. emphasizes importance protection sustainable fisheries management to support populations. Additionally, ongoing monitoring adaptive strategies are necessary ensure long-term health ecosystems they inhabit.

Language: Английский

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Concrete evidence: outplanted corals for reef restoration do not need extended curing of ordinary Portland cement

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Artificial reefs for coral reef restoration are often concrete-based. After concrete is poured, it initially has a high surface pH (approx. 13), which neutralizes within several weeks. During this curing, colonization by marine microalgae delayed and also macrobenthos such as corals may be impacted. In study, we evaluated how curing time applied prior to the deployment of artificial affected performance. Fragments five species were outplanted onto ordinary Portland discs ( n = 10) that had been cured on land. Seven different periods applied, ranging from one day up four months. The with deployed at Kenyan photographed start end experiment. 1 year, cover increased declined one, but was unrelated time. Also, no effect seen development other common benthic organisms macroalgae or soft corals. We conclude unlikely have any long-term negative impacts performance therefore, extended attachment benefit efforts.

Language: Английский

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Negative effects by mineral accretion technique on the heat resilience, growth and recruitment of corals

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(12), P. e0315475 - e0315475

Published: Dec. 30, 2024

Restoration and artificial reefs can assist the recovery of degraded but are limited in scalability climate resilience. The Mineral Accretion Technique (MAT) subjects metal to a low-voltage electrical current, thereby creating calcium-carbonate coating. It has been suggested that corals on MAT structures experience enhanced health growth. However, prior studies report conflicting results potentially due different conditions, species approaches used. We investigated how influences bleaching resilience, condition growth four coral natural recruitment Kenya. Coral fragments were outplanted charged iron tables using commonly-applied settings (6 V; 0.84 A m -2 ). After one month, when all had acquired coating, half taken off electricity serve as controls. Both treatments (MAT Control) monitored brightness, (live tissue cover), for year, during which marine heatwave occurred. was significantly more severe studied species. For three species, dropped sharply this decline faster MAT. reduced remained low Control harboured 34 recruits, whereas none found Thus, while be useful prevent corrosion reefs, we do not recommend reported here improve growth, condition, heat resilience or recruitment.

Language: Английский

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Some like it dirty: Less frequent nursery cleaning can reduce reef restoration costs with limited negative effects on coral performance

Ecological Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 201, P. 107209 - 107209

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Coral gardening is a reef restoration technique in which corals are first grown nurseries and then outplanted onto degraded reefs. However, coral does not yet achieve at ecologically-relevant scales due to associated high costs. often manually cleaned remove biofouling improve performance, although putative benefits of this costly activity remain unconfirmed. We quantified the costs various cleaning frequencies identify most cost-effective nursery approach study site with low herbivorous fish biomass. During one-year study, were either weekly, monthly, quarter-yearly or never. Nurseries contained four species three fragment sizes examine species- size-specific effects. production (combined growth fraction live tissue) quantified. No significant differences found across result was consistent among sizes. Therefore, no clearly identified as option. Costs could be further reduced by selecting fast-growing (e.g. Acropora) stocking large fragments, these contributed production. The resulting minimum cost US$0.26 per including dive, wage material for building, deployment filling sourcing corals. For location potentially many others similar higher biomass, less frequent can substantially reduce without having negative impacts on

Language: Английский

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Shifting patterns in parrotfish corallivory after 12 years of decline on coral depauperate reefs in the Florida Keys, USA

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(5), P. 1359 - 1373

Published: Aug. 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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